Vacuum-pump and control unit for player-piano mechanisms.



C. E. WENZ. vacuum PUMP Aun commu uw ron PLAYER mno MEcHAmsMs. APPLICATiUN FILED JUNE 4.1918.

1,289,986. Patented DPC. 31, 1918 2 SHEETS" SHEEI l.

C. E. WNZ. VACUUM PUMP AND commu um Foa PLAYER PIANO MECHANISMS.

PLICPVHOH FILED IUNE 4.1913. 1,289,986. Patented DPC. 31, 1918.

2 SHEETS'PSHET 2.

Q vv/ d z ftozmn Y CHARLES E. WENZ, OF CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY.

VACUUM-PUMP AND CONTROL UNIT FOR PLAYER-PIANO MECHANISMS.

Application filed .Tune 4, 1918.

To all :Lf/0m it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. WENZ, a citizen of the United States, residing in Clifton, county of Passaic, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain nenr and useful Improvements in Vacuum-Pumps and Control Units for Player- Piano Mecha nisms, of which the following is a specification..

The' present invention relates to a power driven vacuum pump mechanism for operating a player piano, and has for its object to provide a. device of this character which operates and controls the piano automatically from the exterior thereof, instead of from the interior, and which is adapted to be applied to any conventional tracker' board and. player piano mechanism.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character in which the power driven vacuum pump and controlling valves are assembled in a runt-ary structure so that the device can be installed without difliculty, which provides means whereby the playing, stopping and re-relll be controlled automatically from the erf'rated note sheet, and which profor maintaining a uniform tension or degree of vacuum in the vacuum chamber and. action chest at all times, regardless of the position ofu the tempo lever or the number `of perforations in the note sheet, thereby obtaining a smooth and proper faction of the mechanism with the driving motor runniiiygl at a constant speed. y

y `ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, thenovel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in whic- Figure l is a side elevation of a power" driven vacuum pump and controlling means constructed 1n accordance with the inven- Bpecication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918. Srial No. 238,081.

tion, portions heilig broken away and sho-wn in section, and the device being shown in a diagrammatic manner as connected to the tracker board of a player piano.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View through the vacuum ump.

Fig. 3 is an end view of t e vacuum pump.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of one of the controlling valves.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the automatic tension regulating device. u

Fig. 7 is a front view of a conventional. player piano which is provided with an anic. l p iliary pump and control unit constructed in accordance with the invention.

Corresponding and li-ke parts are referreri-l;65` I to in the following description cated in all the views of the drawing the same reference characters. o

Referring to the drawings, which ill" p trate one embodiment of the invention,J 7o numeral l designates the base upon the vacuum pump and automatic valvesfare; A mounted. The pump includes two sets of opposed bellows 2 which are arranged uponv opposite sides of a vacuum chamber 3, th75 upper ends of the bellows being operatively3- connected by pitmen 4 to a crank 'shaft'h 5- which is journaled between the upperends: of the standards 6. One end of the shaft has a driving connection 7 withfiSQ electric motor 8 which is mounted upon the. adjacent end of the base 1. The wires 9 of" the motor circuit have a hand switch 10 and an automatic switch 1l interposed in the length thereof, the hand switch being closed when it is desired to utilize the device `to operate the player piano mechanism, while the switch 11 is arranged to be automatically actuated by a pneumatic 12 when a certain duct 13 inthe tracker bar 14 is uncovered by a erforation in the note sheet.

he pump bellows 2 are provided upon .he swinging outer sides thereof with outlet poi-ts controlled by the outwardly opening` liap valves 15, and upon the inner sides thereof with portsV leading to the vacuum chamber 3, said ports being controlled by inwardly closing flap valves 16. It will thus be obvious that when the bellovvs of the pump arc actuated by the motor alr will be exhausted from the vacuum chamber so that the necessary tension can be maintained in this chamber and in the action chest of the mechanism, said chamber bein placed in communication with the said actlon chest by means` of a main 17. The action chest and striking pncumatics associated there with may be of any conventional construction, and it has not been thoughtnecessary to illustrate or describe these in detail in the present application, since they form no part of the present invention.

Arranged .above the vacuum chamber 3 are three valve chambers 18 Within which vertically reciprocating valves 19 are mounted, said valves being each provided with a stem 20 which terminates at its lower end in a head 21. These heads rest upon flexible diaphragme 22 in pouch chambers 23 and the valves 19 normally engage the valve seats 24, thereby cuttin oil' communication between the valve c ambers 18 and the vacuum chamber 3 through the passages 25. The valves normally tend to close by the action of gravity, land the tension of the air in the vacuum chamber serves to hold the valves tightl in a closed position. Independent conduits 26, 27 and 28 lead from the respective valve chambers 18 to the stopping pneumatic 12, replaying pneumatic 29, and rerolling pneumatic 30. In a similar manner independent conduits 31, 32 and 33 lead from the respective pouch chambers 23 to dutts 13, 34 and 35 in the tracker bar 14. Small by-passes 3G are shown as provided between the conduits 31, 32 and 33 and the passages 25, so that when the ducts 13, 34 and in the tracker bar are closed by the note sheet the air in the pouch chambers 23 and vacuum chamber 3 is at the same tension, thereby permitting the valves to drop into a closed position, as indicated by full `lines on Fig. 5.

The replaying and rerolling pneumatics .29 and 30 are arranged side by side and have' the swinging sides thereof opera-tively connectedlas indicated at 37 to the slide rod 330i? the usual finger lever 39 which is provided for controlling the rerolling and replaying mechanism of the piano. As previously explained, the third neumatic 12 offthe controlling mechanism is operatively connected to the, switch 11 of the electric motor 8. As long as the ducts 13, 34V and 35 of the `tracker bar are closed by the note shiet, the valves 19remain in a closed position, and the player piano can operate in the,

usual manner to `play the piece of music which has been cut into the note sheet.. However, as soon as one of theducts 13, 34 orl 35 is uncovered by an opening in the noto sheet, atmospheric pressure is permitted to enter the corresponding pouch chamber 23 under the diaphragm 22, thereby liftin the diaphragm and raisin the correspon ing valve 19. This plates t e valve chamber 1,8 in communication with the vacuum chamber 3 of the pump, with the result that the corresponding pneumatic 12, 29 or 30 is collapsed. When the duct 13 is uncovered the valve 19 which controls the pneumatic 12 is opened, with the result that the said pneumatic is collapsed and the electric switch 11 opened, thereby stopping the driving motor 8. In a similar manner, when the duct34 is uncovered the valve 19 Which controls the replaying pneumatic 29 is opened, with the result that the said pneumatic is collapsed and the slide rod 38 moved in the proper direction for setting the mechanism to replay the piece. In an identical manner the rerolling pneumatic 30 is collapsed when the duct 35 is uncovered, thereby sliding the rod 38 in the opposite direction and setting the mechanism of the player piano to reroll the not@ sheet. The parts may be constructed so that after being actuated by the pneumatic they will remain in position by the action of friction.

In Fig. 1 the arran ement of the members with re ation to a p ayer piano is merely shown in a diagrammatic manner, While in Fig. 7 the device is shown as applied to a player piano in one possible manner. The

ase 1 with the pump and control valve mechanism mounted thereon is arranged exterior of the piano A so that it can be used in place of the treadle mechanism B,thereby enabling the piano to be driven by ovver. The vacuum chamber 3 of the pump 1s connected by the main 17, as reviously exlained, to the action chest of the piano.

he controlling pneumatics 12,29 andBO are conveniently mounted upon the piano case, the pneumatic lever 12 controlling the electric switch 11 for starting and stopping the electric motor 8, While the pneumatics 29 and 30 are operatively connected to the slide rod 38 and move the same back and forth to control the playingrand replaying mechanism of the piano. his is usually accomlished manually by means of the finger ever 39, andl the pneumatics will not prevent the manual control of the mechanism if it is desired to dispense with the automa-tic control, this being readily done by closing the several valves 40 and rendering the extra ducts in the tracker board 14 inoperative.

The invention thus provides an auxiliaryv pump and control unit mounted upon4 a single base 1 which can be positionedexterior of the piano and used in connection with the control pneumatics which are conveniently'mounted upon the piano case. A

device is thus provided which can be applied as an attachment to nearly any of the conventional player piano mechanisms.

Manually controlled valves 40 are interposed in the lengths of the conduits 31, 32 and 33, said valves being shown for the purpose of illustration as having the form ol slide valves, and as provided with finger pieces 4l by means of Which they can be moved in and out. When these valves are opened the operation of the player piano Will be automatically controlled by the mechanism which has just been described, although when the valves are closed the passage of the note sheet over the ducts 13, 34 and 35 will not operate the valves 19, and it will be necessary to manually control the player piano mechanism in the usual manner. On the drawing the valves 40 for-the conduits 31 and 32 are shoivn as closed, While the valve for the conduit 33- is shown as open. It Will be understood, however, that when the playing of the piano is to be automatically controlled by the three controlling pneumatics 12, 29 and 30. as previously described, all of the valves 40 Will be opened.

An automatic tension controlling device is arranged under the vacuum chamber 3. An opening 42 in the bottom of the vacuum chamber is controlled by a` slide valve 43, said valve being operatively connected by the lever 44 and link 45 to a pneumatic 46. This pneumatic communicates through a pipe 47 with the vacuum chamber 3, and the collapsing of the pneumatic is resisted by a tension spring 48. one end of the spring being connected to a threaded stem 49 Which has an adjusting nut 50 fitted thereon. The tension in this spring can be increased or decreased by tightening or loosening the adjusting nut 50. and this spring holds the pneumatic in an open position until the partial vacuum produced Within the vacuum chamber 3 becomes suiliciently strong to overcome the action of the spring and collapse the pneumatic. The collapsing of the pneumatic operates through the link 45 and lever 44 to open the slide valve 43, thereby partially uncovering the opening 42 and per mitting a suliieient amount of atmospheric air to enter the vacuum chamber to decrease the `tension therein. As soon as the tension of the air in the vacuum chamber has been sufficiently decreased the pneumatic 46 will again expand under the action of the spring 48, the slide valve 43 which is operatively connected to the pneumatic being simultaneously closed. In this manner a uniform tension is maintained Within the vacuum chamber and action chest ot' the player mecha uism` regardless of the position of the tempo lever. or the number of openings cut in the note sheet, the electric motor 8 being permitted to run at all times at a uniform speed.

The tension of the spring 48 can be adjusted to regulate the degree of vacuum which is maintained in the vacuum chamber and action chest, and the device can thus be set to operate in the most eii'ective manner in connection with different player piano mechanisms and under different conditions.

The pneumatics 12, 29 and 30 are described and claimed as operatively connected to controlling elements of the player piano, and by the term controlling elements as used in the claims is meant some member for controlling the motor or operation of the mechanism, as distinguished from the pneumatics in the action chest which operate the keys of the piano.

Having thus described the invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by lietters Patent, is

1. A separate and auxiliary pump control unit for player piano actions, including a bam. mounted exterior to the piano and in dependently thereof, a pump mounted on said base so as to be movable therewith and formed with a vacuum chamber, a main connecting the vacuum chamber to the action chest of the piano, a control valve mounted directlyr upon the pump and carried thereby, a pneumatic arranged remote from the base and controlled by the said valve, an operative connection between the pneumatic and a controlling element of the player piano, and note Sheet control means for actuating the valves. n

A separate and auxiliary pump and control valve unit, including a base mounted exterior to the piano and independently thereof. a. pump mounted ou said base so as to be movable therewith and formed with a vacuum chamber, a main leading from said vacuum chamber to the action chest of the piano. a. pouch chamber and associated valve chamber mounted directly upon the pump and movable therewith, a diaphragm extending across the pouch chamber, a valve mounted Within the valve chamber and controlling communication between the said chamber and the vacuum chamber, said valve being controlled by the diaphragm, a conduit between the pouch chamber and the tracker bar, and a remotely mounted pneumatic controlled by the valve and operatively connected to a controlling element of the player piano.

3. The combination with a pneumatic player piano action. including a tracker bar having an extra duct therein, of a vacuum pump formed with a vacuum chamber, a pouch chamber and associated valve chamber being mounted directly upon the vacuum chamber and carried by the pump, a diaphragm extending across the pouch chamber, a valve mounted in the valve chamber and controlled by the movements of the diaphragm, a conduit between the pouch charnber and the extra duct of the tracker bar, a remotely arranged pneumatic operatively connected to a controlling element of the player mechanism, and a conduit between the pneumatic and the valve chamber, communication between the valve chamber and vacuum chamber being controlled b v the valve and the pump and valve constituting a unit which is independent of the player piano action.

4. The combination with a pneumatic player piano action, including a tracker bar having a number of extra ducts therein, of a vacuum pump formed with a vacuum chamber, a series of pouch chambers and associated valve chambers mounted directly upon the vacuum chamber and carried by the pump, diaphragme extending across the pouch chambers, valves mounted within the valve chambers and controlling communication between the said chambers and the vacuum chambers, said valves being controlled by the diaphragme, conduits between the respective pouch chambers and the extra ducts of the tracker bar, and a number of remotely mounted pneumatics operatively connected to different control elements of the player mechanism and in communication with the valve chambers, the vacuum pump and control valves being assembled as a complete unit which is independent of the player piano action.

5. Aiseparate and auxiliary pump and control valve unit for player pianos, including a base mounted exterior to the piano and independently thereof, a pump mounted on said base so as to be movable therewith and formed with a vacuum chamber, a valve chamber mounted directly upon the vacuum chamber and carried by the base, a valve within the valve chamber, a remotely arranged pneumatic controlled by the valve and operatively connected to a controlling element of the player mechanism, and note sheet control means for actuating the valves, the pump and control valve being assembled as a unit which is mounted upon the base and is movable independently of the player piano.

6. An auxiliary pump and control unit for player piano actions, including a base, adapted to be mounted exterior of the piano and individually thereof, a pump mounted on said base and formed with a vacuum chamber, a pouch chamber and superposed valve chamber arranged at one side of the vacuum chamber, and mounted directly thereon so as to be carried by the base, a diaphragm extending across the pouch chamber, a valve mounted Within the valve chamber and controlling communication between the said chamber and the vacuum chamber, said valve being controlled by the diaphragm, a conduit between the pouch chamber and the tracker bar, a pneumatic remote from the base and operatively connected to a controlling element of the player piano action, and a conduit between the pneumatic and the valve chamber.

T. An auxiliary pump and control unit for player piano actions, including a base adapted to be mounted exterior of the piano and individually thereof, spaced standards projecting trom thc base, a crank shaft journaled between the standards, opposed sets of bellows arranged ou opposite sides of the :standards and operatively connected to the crank shaft, a vacuum chamber being provided bctwcen the bellows and operatively connected thereto, a series of valve chambers arranged above the vacuum chamber and mounted directly' thereon, valves mounted within the valve chambers and controlling communication between the same and the vacuum chamber, pneumatics remote from the base and operatively connected to controlling elements of the player piano mechanism, conduits between the pneumatics and the respective valve chambers, and note sheet controlled means for selectively actuating the valves.

S. An auxiliary pump and control unit for player piano actions, including a base adapted to be mounted exterior of the piano and individually thereof, standards projecting from said base, a crank shaft journaled be tween the standards, opposed sets of bellows operatively connected to the :crank shaft, a vacuum chamber being provided between the two sets of bellows and operatively connected thereto, a series of pneumatics arranged remote from the base and operatively connected to controlling elements of the player piano mechanism, conduits leading from the pneumatics to the vacuum chamber, valves mounted directly upon the vacuum chamber and controlling the conduits, note sheet controlled means for selectively actuating the valves, a tension controlled valve for the vacuum chamber, and means for automatically actuating the said valve according to the tension in the vacuum chamber,

9. An auxiliary pump and control unit for player piano actions, including a base adapted to be mounted exterior of the piano and individually thereof, standards projecting from said baser, a crank shaft journaled between the standards, a pair of opposed sets of bellows mounted upon opposite sides of the standards and operatively connected to the crank shaft, a vacuum chamber being provided between the two sets of bellows and operatively connected thereto, valve chambers being provided `at one side of the vacuum chamber and mounted directly thereon, valves mounted within the valve chambers and controlling communication a tension controlling valve at one side of the between lthe said chamber and the vacuum vacuum chamber, a pneumatic in communichamber, a series of pneumatics arranged cation with the vacuum chamber and oper- 10 remote from the base and operatively conatvely connected to the valve, and yieldnectecl to controlling elements of the player ing means resisting the action of the pneupiano mechanism, note sheet controlled matic.

means for selectively actuating the valves, CHARLES E. WENZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained fur ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner n! Patents, Washington, D. C. 

